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Hi, all:

I bring you book 9 in one of my favourite police procedural series. I am sure you’ll remember this one.

Nobody Will Miss Them (The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Book 9) by Brian O’Hare

When Inspector Sheehan’s Serious Crimes team is investigating the murder of a teenage girl, medics from a private hospital are among the witnesses interviewed. All appear innocent but as the case progresses, Sheehan slowly uncovers a depraved conspiracy where the stakes are millions of pounds and human lives are mere flotsam.

The investigation is stalled by a frustrating lack of information but the deeper Sheehan goes, the more the vile nature of the conspiracy emerges.

With powerful, ruthless people watching his every move, Sheehan becomes aware that an implacable cabal has turned its attention to him and his partner. When an attempt is made on his sergeant’s life, Sheehan realises they are getting too close to the truth. Now he is no longer just investigating a crime, he’s in a desperate race against a clock that is ticking toward both of their deaths.

Each new book in Brian O’Hare’s library becomes my new favourite. (Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers’ Favourite)

“The tone is suspenseful, eerie, and morally unsettling, emphasizing themes of exploitation, corruption, and the stark divide between social classes.” (Google)

Brian O’Hare has a refreshing voice in the crime and mystery genres, a clear and enjoyable one. (Divine Zape for Readers Favourite)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/254021218-nobody-will-miss-them

About the author:

Brian O’Hare’s early writing was academic but when he decided to write fiction, his success surprised him. His books have won several awards and his first mystery novel, Angel of Death, led to the award-winning Inspector Sheehan Mysteries series. There are eight books in the series with a ninth on the way.

Before retirement he was Assistant Director of the Southern Regional College in Northern Ireland. Married, with three children, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, he now writes full-time. For many years he and his wife enjoyed travelling, especially in France. He also enjoys reading, chess and plays golf twice a week.

Reviewers say that O’Hare writes with a keen eye for detail with his tales evolving at a surprisingly fast pace, that he leans towards the human side of his characters,that he imbues them with a real-world presence that is in turn witty and passionate. If you are interested in discovering whether or not there is any truth to these judgements, the novels are available on Amazon, sometimes at a reduced rate.

My review:

I discovered the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries a few years back and have been a fan since. I am always happy to come across a new novel in the series, and its latest instalment, number nine, does not disappoint. I’ve grown fond of all the members of this team of the Serious Crime Unit of Belfast (Northern Ireland), and the author of this gripping police procedural story includes a list to guide readers through the hierarchy of the Northern Irish police, with the equivalent positions in the UK, to help readers avoid confusion.

Inspector Sheehan is the man in charge, a methodical professional who likes to follow the rules and investigate in depth, but he also has a talent for seeing what others don’t see; pondering over seemingly unimportant bits of information; and reaching surprisingly accurate conclusions. He has a reputation for solving the most difficult cases, and that doesn’t always work in his favour, as happens here (I will avoid spoilers and won’t say anything else).

This book opens with a disturbing prologue describing what appears to be a crime that quickly becomes a part of the team’s investigation, despite being a cold case, as the events took place ten years prior. On the other hand, Sergeant Stewart, the only female of the team and Sheehan’s right hand, gets involved in a missing person’s case through her volunteering. How those two cases connect, and how difficult certain crimes can be to investigate and prove, becomes the heart of the story. Not all criminals are born the same, and, unfortunately, not all victims are given the same status or attention, as we discover soon enough.

There is plenty of police work, as we are used to in police procedural movies, TV series, and books: interviewing, investigating, and following clues that a lot of the time seem to lead nowhere. There are also fresh murders and plenty of risks and dangers for he team members. The criminals involved are dangerous and are taking no prisoners (metaphorically speaking).

The dark subject and the detailed investigation (there is some violence, but nothing extreme, at least explicitly on the page) don’t turn this novel into a hard-going or difficult read, as there are lighter moments, plenty of camaraderie, affection and support between the members of the team, and some touches of humour. I particularly enjoyed the episode when the rest of the team are trying to come up with a workable plan when the boss is unavailable to do the thinking. I will only say that it is not straightforward, and it helps diffuse the tension of a particularly tricky moment for all involved.

This is another very enjoyable addition to a series that I’ve become a faithful follower of. To those who haven’t read any of the other novels, I’d say the book can be read as a stand-alone and be enjoyed as a gripping police procedural in its own right. Personally though, I am particularly fond of catching up with the different characters and thinking of how they have evolved over the years and the volumes. They have become dear friends, and I hope there are plenty more adventures left for Inspector Sheehan and his team.

I thank the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.

Thanks to the author for another great book, thanks to all of you for visiting, reading, sharing, liking, commenting… And remember to take care, have fun, and keep smiling!